Friends of Library used book sale raises money for the Park City Library

The Friends of the Park City Library are ready to host this year’s used book sale fundraiser, said Co-President Jean Daly.

"We are so excited about the sale this year because this is the first one we will host in the newly renovated library," Daly told The Park Record. "They have done a lovely, lovely job of giving us a spot where we can have the sale. We can spread things out because there is a lot of room."

The annual sale will be held at the library, 1255 Park Ave., from Saturday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 7.

Saturday’s hours will be from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a sneak preview for Friends of the Park City Library members from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Sunday’s hours will run from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Monday’s sale will run from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"The Friends of the Park City Library have approximately 140 members and the cost of becoming a member is as little as $15," Daly said. "They will get in early on Saturday to get first pick of the books, before the sale opens to the public, and people can join the Friends of the Park City Library on the spot. We’ll have sign-ups so anyone can get in early."

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Part of the sale will be set up in the Jim Santy Auditorium on the third floor and another part will be held in the community room across the hall.

"We are going to put all the paperback fiction on the auditorium stage and then we’ll put all of the hardback fiction in front of the stage," Daly said. "We’ll also utilize the community room, and put everything else in there. Those glass doors are just wonderful and I have a feeling they will show the display of the books very well."

Daly, who is also the co-organizer of the sale, said there are "tons" of books.

"We have received some wonderful donations and have more than 400 books," she said. "We have nonfiction, fiction, foreign-language, reference, audio-visual, travel, sports, animals and those big, picturesque coffee-table books.

The sale will also feature children’s and young-adult books, as well as puzzles, games and videos and DVDs.

"All of these things were donated within the past year," Daly said. "It is incredible what we receive."

All of the items will be marked for discount.

"Hardbacks will go for $2 and paperbacks will be 50 cents each," Daly said. "Then on Monday, we’ll hold the bargain sale, which is huge. People come in and fill up bags for $5."

Once the sale is over, any leftover books are sold to a wholeseller down in Salt Lake City.

"He is very generous with what he gives us," Daly said.

The used book sale is the major fundraiser for whatever the Park City Library needs that the library budget cannot cover, Daly explained.

"This is important because the library’s budget has been cut by 10 percent over the past five years," she said. "We support its mission by paying for conferences, Rapid-Readers, eBooks and the children’s center."

Throughout the years, Daly has seen some return customers from around the state.

"We have people who plan their weekend and who come from Logan, Ogden and Bountiful, because they know how good the sale is," she said. "They make it an event."

Unfortunately, in recent years, the money raised through the book sale has decreased.

"Five years ago, we made $10,000 and last year, because we had to move the sale to the Park City Senior Center due to the renovation, we made $6,000," Daly said. "I also think that people aren’t buying as much because they are reading their books electronically through Kindle and Nook."

Regardless of the decrease, the Friends of the Park City Library is still able to bring in money from the book sale, but also have additional funds coming through the wholeseller and an area called the Friends of the Park City Library Corner bookstore.

"This is located in the corner on the other side of the wall from the Park City Coffee Roasters at the library’s entrance," Daly said. "We are doing a bang-up job of selling books from there, so we’re still getting a lot of good money to contribute to the library."

Daly is optimistic that attendance at this year’s book sale will increase.

"We feel this year’s sale will be a huge success because of how the library looks, thanks to the renovation and thanks to our volunteers," she said. "We would love to see our membership increase."

The Friends of the Park City Library Annual Labor Day Weekend Used Book Sale will be held on third floor of the Park City Library, 1255 Park Ave., from Saturday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 7. Saturday’s hours are 9 am. to 10:30 a.m. for Friends of the Park City Library members and then from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the general public. Sunday’s hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday’s Bargain Bag Day Sale will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.parkcitylibrary.org.